WEST SENECA, N.Y. — The West Seneca Central School District has proposed laying off 47.5 positions to save around $4.5 million in their upcoming budget.
The layoffs were discussed during a budget presentation at Tuesday's school board meeting which was well attended by teachers and staff opposed to the plan.
Interim District Superintendent Jeffrey Rabey laid out several budget challenges including the loss of pandemic grants, the state's 2% cap on school taxes, uncertainty surrounding state aid, and the rising cost of benefits and other items purchased by the district.
Rabey also noted that hiring at the Elementary level and in the areas of Special Education and Literacy since 2021 has occurred disproportionately to enrollment, which has decreased by 794 students since the 2013-2014 school year.
The district projects losing another 353 students over the next 10 years.
An estimated budget shortfall of $5,009,795 was identified in the first draft of the budget Rabey said. The second draft presented Tuesday includes options the district is considering to fill that hole including staff reductions.
"These cuts are not needs, these are wants. Why does upper administration want to cut these positions? We've not been concluded in any review or evaluation therefore it can be concluded that these cuts are based on the wants of an interim superintendent and not the needs of the community, the staff, or the families," said Craig Ursing, a spokesman for West Seneca teachers.
Ursing questioned why the district would place $4 million in reserves while cutting positions, noting that West Seneca has seen reserve increases since 2018.
During his presentation, Rabey indicated that the district has $23,258,819 in reserves as of 2023.
Ursing challenged the district to do more to keep teachers rather than, what he called "manufacturing a crisis."
"Make no mistake these cuts if approved would affect class sizes programs and the families within the community," Ursing added.
A public hearing is scheduled for the budget plan coming up on May 7.
The West Seneca School budget vote is scheduled for May 21.
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